[ad_1]
GREEN BAY – Mike McCarthy will not do anything extraordinary. No radical change in the travel schedule, no extra meeting, no change of menu for the team's snack, nor last-minute switcheroo with accommodation.
All that Green Bay Packers coach really wants to change is the inability of his team to win on the outside.
"We are going to stay at the hotel where we planned to stay," said McCarthy with an ironic smile Monday as the Packers (4-5-1) geared up for Sunday's game against the NFC North, the rival of the NFC (5-4). -1) at US Bank Stadium.
"Sleep in a different hotel, I do not think that will help us. This is not an option. We're going to spend a little more time (working) on the third downhill as an offense, things like that. We will just focus on football. "
Whatever the Packers do, they need to find a way to win a road match – something they have not done in 2018 – or their season could just as easily be over.
Thanks to the disappointing Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks defeats on the road last month – although they were tied or in the lead in the fourth quarter of the three games – the Packers are at 0-5 from Lambeau Field this season. And yet, the Vikings are entering the week holding sixth and last place in the playoffs of the NFC, the Packers on their return.
If the Packers beat Minnesota, both teams will remain at 5-5-1, but the Packers will be decisive. with the Vikings after the teams clashed for a 29-29 draw on September 16 at Lambeau Field.
"Absolutely, we understand perfectly where we are. We understand what our balance sheet is, and you can break it even tighter than that – we have to win on the road. It's something we did not do, "McCarthy said. "(US Bank Stadium) is a difficult place to play there. We know what we have to do.
"It's all about beating the Vikings. We clearly understand where we are in our season as a whole. But we must win this division game. "
While the Chicago Bears took control of the NFC North at 7-3 with their 25-20 win over the Vikings Sunday night, a six-game winning streak to end the season – like the one that the Packers closed in 2016, after the rallying cry of the runner Aaron Rodgers – "let's run the table" – would include a Bears victory at Soldier Field on December 15th and give the Packers a 10-5-1 record at the end of the season.
Considering that, in addition to their road trips without a win, the Packers have not won consecutive games this season, such a race may be too demanding of this team. The ghost card route could be more realistic, as the remaining five Vikings opponents after the Vikings have a combined record of 20-30: home games against Arizona (2-8), Atlanta (4-6) and Detroit (4-6) and road games at the Bears (7-3) and New York Jets (3-7).
The Packers are also expected to face the Seahawks (5-5, with a decisive head-to-head advantage) and the Dallas Cowboys (5-5) to earn the Wild Card qualification.
"I'm optimistic, I'm just going to say that, I'm optimistic that we can always do it, maybe it's just the competitor speaking, but I think we can do it," said the half defensive Tramon Williams. "We just have not managed (on the road) this year.I do not understand, I do not know why.I'll just go in and be optimistic every week that we can get it. I do not think that will change. "
Thumbs up?
Jimmy Graham suffered a thumb fracture in Thursday night's loss, but he wants to play against the Vikings.
"I know that he intends to try to go there. That's his intention, "said McCarthy.
Graham's broke his thumb by blocking in the loss of Thursday night in Seattle. Graham is second in the team receiving (34) and receiving yards (452) and tied for second in touchdown (two).
When asked how tightly a tight end could catch the ball effectively, McCarthy replied, "There will be a transition during the test week and (Graham will try) different splints and things like that. That's why you have to work on it. Every injury is different. "
From the infirmary
McCarthy confirmed that defensive tackle Mike Daniels, who left Thursday's game after a foot injury, will be out for "a few weeks". Daniels was seen in the locker room Monday on a scooter with his foot in an orthopedic boot.
Having already lost defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson for the season due to a leg injury in Week 3, the Packers will likely need to add help to the line this week. McCarthy said he and CEO Brian Gutekunst had discussed the situation on Monday.
McCarthy said the team would not make the roster "as long as we're not going there and we're going (training this week). We will probably have more news for you in the next 48 hours. "
At the same time, wide ball receiver Randall Cobb spoke of the hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in five of the team's last seven games.
"I've never had any hamstring problems like this," Cobb said. "I did everything that I was asked to do. I brought a (physical therapist) with whom I work during the off season. I am doing everything I can to return to the field. But at the end of the day, I have to be able to play, to be confident and to be myself. If I'm not myself, then I hurt this team. "
Cornerback Kevin King, who missed four games and two other games with injuries to the groin and hamstrings, said he hoped to play.
"I hope, I feel good, we'll see," King said.
Like Cobb, King did not make the trip to Seattle because of his injury. He said Monday that he had gone to Chicago for the weekend and had ended up watching his team while he was eating at a steakhouse.
"It's crazy because I tried not to overdo it (screaming) but it's difficult," said King. "There were a lot of Chicago fans out there, and everyone looked at me strangely, but hey."
Source link
